Fastening device.



J. B. FESLER.

FASTENING DEVICE. APPLICATION man Alma. 1-914.

1 ,1 90,882 Patented ul 11, 1916.

vices, of which the Fig. 2 is a view FFECE.

JOEL BARLOW FESLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FASTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed August 8, 1914. Serial No. 855,743.

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOEL B. FEsLER, citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Richmond Hill, borough of Queens, county of Queens, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Defollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to fastening devices of the general nature of automatic lacing devices, and is applicable to various garments, including skirts, corsets, shoes, gloves, and also to various other articles which are to be heldtogether, or which comprise portions adapted to be drawn together.

My invention consists in the novel construction of the device, as hereinafter'described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of lacing or fastening devices such as referred to, and to make the same easy of construction and easy of operation and free from liability ment.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with particular reference to the drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims; p

Figure 1 shows an elevation of two pieces of fabric (for example, two sides of a skirt or glove or shoe top or the like) with my improved fastening device applied thereto, 7

and adapted to draw the same together or, at will, to permit the separation thereof. showing the two edges of the fabric detached, and separated, together with the threading device; all shown in elevation. Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the threading device-on the line m-as of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows a transverse section on the line 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows an end view of the threading device. Fig. 6 shows a side view of the threading device. Fig. 7 shows, on a larger scale than the previous views, a perspective elevation ofone of the eyelets and of a portion of the beadedged tape or braid, to which the same is secured. Fig. 8 shows an elevation of an to derangealternative form of threading device. Fig. 9 shows a side view of such alternative form of threading device. Fig. 10 shows a transverse section of such alternative threading device on the line 2-2 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing this alternative' form of threading device in use. Fig. 12 shows an elevation of a further al ternative form of threading device, and Fig. 13 is an end View thereof.

My improved fastening device comprises two rows of slotted eyelets, such rows adapted for connection to the edge of the articles or edges to be united or drawn together, the eyelets of one row adapted to fit between the eyelets of the opposite row, with slight clearance for flexibility, and a threading member adapted to engage successively the eyelets of the said two rows, and to draw them together, such threading'member provided usually with a flexible uniting device, generally having the form of a flexible cord, which is drawn through the eyelets of the two rows as such threading device successively engages the eyelets of said two rows.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, numerals 1-1 designate the eyelets of one row, and numerals 22 designate the eyelets of the other row, the eyelets of each row being connected at suitably spaced intervals to adjacent edges of the articles to be drawn together. In the construction shown, the rows of eyelets 1 and 2 are connected to strips of tape or braid or similar flexible material 3,themselves connected to the edges of the articles 4 to be drawn together. As indicated particularly in Figs. 4 and 7, the eyelets 1 and 2 are not complete eyelets, but have in their outer faces, slots 5' adapted to receive the grooves of the threading device hereinafter described. 6 designates the said threading device, the same comprising an approximately triangular or wedge-shaped member, having converging and intersecting side grooves 7 and 8, adapted to receive the edges 99 of the eyelets 1 and 2, and having, outside of those grooves 7 and 8, curved guides 10 and 11, adapted to enter the ends of the eyelets 1 and 2, and merging into a stem 12 to which is attached the conm :ting member, shown into the stem 12, by the grooves 7 and 8 respe'etivelv.

the device will be obvious from Fig. 1. In connecting the two members 14, the threading device 6 is drawn upward (as the parts are shown in that figure); and as such threading device is drawn upward, the guides 10 and 11 enter the eyelets 1 and 2 in succession, the edges 9 of said eyelets entering the grooves 7 and 8; and these eyelets travel along the guides 10 and 11, each eyelet of series 2 passing over the stem 12 of the threading device so as to intervene between two eyelets of the series 1 on said stem. The edges 9 of the eyelets pass the crossing of the grooves 7 and 8, just as the flanges of car Wheels pass through the grooves of track crossings. As the onward motion of the threading device 6 continues, the eyelets The operation of pass over the'stem 12 onto the cord 13,

which holds the eyelets of the two series together, while permitting free bending of the seam formedby the united eyelets. By a reverse operation, the members 44= may be detached one from another, the threading member 6 being drawn downward (by pulling upon the exposed end of the cord 13) the eyelets of the series 1 and 2 traveling over the guides 10 and 11, respectively, and separating.

It will be clear that instead of uniting the members Mfr-om the bottom upward as indicated in Fig. 1, they may be united y from the top downward; for the threading device 6 may pass through the eyelets 1 and 2 in either direction, as indicated in Fig. 11.

I do not limit myself to any particular means for connecting the eyelets 1 and 2 to the beaded tape 3, but the method of connection illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7 is convenient. In that construction, the tape 3 is woven with a beadedge 14; that is to say, its edge is woven around a central core 15 of cord or the like. Such bead edge fabrics are well known. The eyelets 1 and 2 are provided with claws 16 adapted to span the bead edge 14 and to be clamped tightly around such bead edge. It will be obvious that eyelets such as the eyelets 1, provided with such claws, 16, are readily made and applied by automatic machinery, and that such machinery will space the eyelets at precisely the desired distance upon the braid and will do this with great uniformity. I have been able to make fastening'devices, such as shown in Fig. 1, which operate very smoothly indeed, and which provide a very flexible seam; and I have made such fastening devices of a size suitable for shoes and gloves, and have also made them in larger sizes.

In case it is thought desirable to provide external guides for the eyelets l and 2, as Well as internal guides 10 and 11, I may employ a construction such as shown 111 Figs. 8-11 inclusive, wherein the threading device, there designated by numeral 6*, is provided, not only with guide grooves 7 and 8, and the internal guides 10 and 11, but also with guide plates 17 overlapping, but spaced slightly away from, the guides 10 and 11, andhaving flaring portions 18 atv their wider ends to facilitate the passage of the eyelets 1 and 2 into the annularspace between such guide plates 17, and the guide ribs 10 and 11. In other respects, the threading deviceshown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive-is substantially identical with that shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and the operation is the same in both cases.

In some instances, and as indicated in Fig. 12, the interior guides lO and 11 may be omitted altogether, exterior guides 17 only being provided, which will guide the eyelets over the point of the stem 12.

In a divisional application filed July 9, 1915, Serial No. 38,911, I have claimed the threading device shown in Figs. 12 and 13,

also the combination with such threading device of the plurality of rows of eyelets with which such threading device is adapted to coact. Therefore, such device is not claimed specifically herein.

What Iclaim is:

1. A fastening device such as described, comprising a plurality of rows of opensided eyelets adapted to be drawn into approximate registry with the eyelets of one rowalternated with the eyelets of the op posite row, in combination with a threading device having a stem adapted to passthrough such eyelets, and having two guides diverging from such stem and adapted each to pass throu h the eyelets of one series.

2. K fastening device such as described, comprising a plurality of rows of opensided eyelets adapted to be drawn into approximate registry with the eyelets of one row alternated with the eyelets of the opposite row, in combination with a threading device having a stem adapted to pass through such eyelets, and having two guides diverging from such stem and adapted each to passthrough the eyelets of one series, and aflexible connecting member secured to such stem and adapted to be drawn thereby through the alternated substantially registering eyelets of the two series.

3. A fastenlng device such as described,

having two guides diverging from such stem and adapted each to pass'through the eyelets of one, series, and having also a body portion intermediate such-diverging guides, but connected thereto and having grooves adjacent to and parallel with said guides to receive the edges of the eyelets, each such groove crossing the opposite guide-in proximity to the point Where such guides merge into the stem.

' 4. A fastening device such as described, comprising a plurality of rows of open-sided eyelets, the eyelets of each row adapted'to be drawn into approximate registry with the eyelets of the opposite row, in combination with a threading device having a stem adapted to pass throughsuch eyelets, and having two guides diverging, from ,such stem and adapted each to pass through the eyelets of one series, and having also a body portion intermediate such diverging guides, but con- I nected thereto and having grooves adjacent the point where such guides, merge into the to and parallel wlth said guides to receive the edges of the eyelets, each such groove crossing the opposite guide in proximity to stem, and a flexible connecting member secured to such stem and adapted to be drawn thereby through the alternating substantially registering. eyelets'of thetwo series.

5. A fastening device such as described,

, comprising a plurality of rows of open-sided eyelets adapted'to be drawn into approxialternated with the eyelets of the opposite row, in combination with a threadingdevice having a stem adapted to pass through, such eyelets, and having two guides diverging from. such stem and adapted each to pass. through the eyelets of oneseries, such thread- -ing device having also outer guides surrounding and substantially parallel to, but spaced away from, the guldes' first mentioned, and adapted to receivethe eyelets within them and to guide such eyelets ex-J teriorly. I 6. A fastening devicesuch as. described,

comprising a plurality of rows of -opensided eyelets adapted to be drawn into approximate registry with the eyelets of onerow alternated with the eyelets of the opposite row,- in combination with. a threading device having a stem adapted to pass through such eyelets, and having two guides diverging from such stemand adapted each to pass throughthe eyelets of one series, such 'threadingdevice having also outer guides surrounding "and substantially parallel to, but spaced away from, the guides first (mentioned,

and to guide such eyelets'exteriorly, the

said exterior guides having outwardly.

flaring portions at the broader end of the and adapted to receive the eyelets within them threading device to facilitate the entry of the eyelets into such exterior guides,

7 A fasteningdevice such as described,

comprising two strips of bead-edged fa b' to said the eyelets of the. two rows into approximate registry. andhaving a stem adapted to pass through such-eyelets when in 'approximate registry..

comprising a plurality of rows of eyelets, flexible connecting means connecting and eyelets of the two rows adapted to be drawn into approximate registry with the eyelets of one row. eyelets of the. opposite row, in combination with a threading device having guide means 8. A fastening dev ce suchv as'described, I

spacing apart the eyelets of each' row," theIv alternated with the adapted to draw the eyelets of the-two rows into approximate registry and having a stem adapted to pass hrough such'eyelets when in such approximate registry.

9. A threading device forfastening devices such as described, comprising a to pass through slotted eyelets such eyelets being adapted to pass over said stem. 10. A threading device for fastening devices such as described, comprising a wedge-shaped member having a stem'at its smaller'end, and having at its sides guides diverging from such stemand each adapted to pass through slotted eyelets, such eyelets being adapted to pass over said said threading device having also grooves adjacent to and parallel with said guides wedge-shaped member having a stem at its. smaller end, and having at its sides guides diverging from such-stem and each adapted stem,

and adapted to receive edge portions of such eyelets.

wedge-shaped member having a stem at its smaller end, and having at its sides guides diverging from such stem and each adapted to pass through slotted eyelets, .such eye lets being adapted to. pass over said stem, each such groove crossing the opposite guide in proximity to-the point where such guides merge into the stem.

11. A threading device for fastening devices such as .described, comprising a 12. A threading device for fastening devices such as described,

"wedge-shaped member having a stem at lts smaller end, and having at its sides guides comprising a diverging from such stem and each adapted to pass through s o ted eye ets, such eye-v eyelets Withinthem and to guide such eyelets exteriorly.

In testimeny whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' JOEL BARLOW FESLER.

Witnesses:

H. M. MARBLE, CPAUL H. FRANKE. 

